NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
46 reportsMileage unknown · May 9, 2023
Air Bags
BMW just issued a Do Not Drive order for BMW 5 series cars from 2000 to 2006. Our car is a 1999 BMW 528I. According to your safety records, this car also has Takata air bags, but I see no indication these have been recalled. Since they are actually older than the 2000-2006 cars, shouldn't these 1999 Takata air bags be just as da…
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BMW just issued a Do Not Drive order for BMW 5 series cars from 2000 to 2006. Our car is a 1999 BMW 528I. According to your safety records, this car also has Takata air bags, but I see no indication these have been recalled. Since they are actually older than the 2000-2006 cars, shouldn't these 1999 Takata air bags be just as dangerous? What should I do about this? Thank you.
NHTSA ODI #11521084
137,000 miles · Sep 12, 2019
Air BagsInjury
TAKATA INFLATORS: MY NEPHEW WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, WHEN THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS EXPLODED WITHOUT WARNING. BOTH THE DOOR AIRBAG AND THE CURTAIN AIRBAG EXPLODED.
NHTSA ODI #11255209
Mileage unknown · Jun 30, 2019
Air BagsCrashInjury
WILMINGTON NORTH CAROLINA POLICE INSURANCE FRAUD STAGED ACCIDENT ATTEMPTED MURDER. OFFICER [XXX] RELEASED A DRIVER IN THE ACCIDENT AND FILED A FALSE ACCIDENT REPORT WITH CAUCASIAN MALES. ACCIDENT REPORT WILMINGTON NORTH CAROLINA ONLINE. [XXX] AND [XXX] DAMAGE DON'T EQUAL DAMAGES TO MY CAR. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE…
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WILMINGTON NORTH CAROLINA POLICE INSURANCE FRAUD STAGED ACCIDENT ATTEMPTED MURDER. OFFICER [XXX] RELEASED A DRIVER IN THE ACCIDENT AND FILED A FALSE ACCIDENT REPORT WITH CAUCASIAN MALES. ACCIDENT REPORT WILMINGTON NORTH CAROLINA ONLINE. [XXX] AND [XXX] DAMAGE DON'T EQUAL DAMAGES TO MY CAR. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
NHTSA ODI #11228512
200,000 miles · Feb 8, 2019
Air BagsInjury
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 528I. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR AN IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED EYE INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED THE BMW MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNO…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 528I. WHILE MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR AN IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED EYE INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND CALLED THE BMW MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN BMW DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
NHTSA ODI #11175693
97,654 miles · Aug 6, 2016
Service Brakes
I HAD BEEN DRIVING MY 528I (BMW 1999) THIS PAST WINTER WHEN I NOTICED THE POWER BRAKES WERE NO LONGER WORKING. I HAD TO DEPRESS THE PEDDLE WITH NO ASSIST, AND WHILE THE CAR DI EVENTUALLY STOP, IT COULD HAVE BEEN UNFORTUNATE IF MY WIFE OR DAUGHTER WERE FACED WITH THIS CONDITION SUDDENLY. POWER BRAKE BOOSTER APPARENTLY WENT BAD…
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I HAD BEEN DRIVING MY 528I (BMW 1999) THIS PAST WINTER WHEN I NOTICED THE POWER BRAKES WERE NO LONGER WORKING. I HAD TO DEPRESS THE PEDDLE WITH NO ASSIST, AND WHILE THE CAR DI EVENTUALLY STOP, IT COULD HAVE BEEN UNFORTUNATE IF MY WIFE OR DAUGHTER WERE FACED WITH THIS CONDITION SUDDENLY. POWER BRAKE BOOSTER APPARENTLY WENT BAD, WATER LEAKING IN AND FREEZING, FORTUNATELY NO ON E INJURED.
NHTSA ODI #10893683
104,888 miles · Mar 29, 2015
Air Bags
MY AIRBAG LIGHT ON DASH TURNED ON. I READ THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS. IS THIS TRUE? *TR
NHTSA ODI #10702388
108,000 miles · May 19, 2011
EquipmentStructure
I RECENTLY USED THE JACK IN MY 1999 BMW 528I FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER A FEW DAYS AGO. THE JACK IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE CAR. IT IS LABELED FOR 1997 AND 1998 CARS - NOT THE 1999 I OWN. WHILE JACKING TO REMOVE A TIRE THE JACK POPPED OF PLACE WITH FORCE AND THE CAR FELL. LUCKILY I HAD NOT REMOVED THE TIRE. I CONTACTED BMW CU…
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I RECENTLY USED THE JACK IN MY 1999 BMW 528I FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER A FEW DAYS AGO. THE JACK IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE CAR. IT IS LABELED FOR 1997 AND 1998 CARS - NOT THE 1999 I OWN. WHILE JACKING TO REMOVE A TIRE THE JACK POPPED OF PLACE WITH FORCE AND THE CAR FELL. LUCKILY I HAD NOT REMOVED THE TIRE. I CONTACTED BMW CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND THEY REFUSED TO PROVIDE THE CORRECT JACK. BMW POLICY IF TO NOT ADDRESS ANY ISSUE AFTER THE 4YEAR/50,000MILE WARRANTY IS EXPIRED....EVEN IF IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. HOPEFULLY THE NHTSA CAN ADDRESS THIS SAFETY ISSUE WITH BMW USA. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10402116
171,900 miles · Mar 24, 2011
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD. SHE WAS UNABLE TO BRAKE AND CRASHED INTO TREE. THE CONTACT WAS UNINJURED. THE POLICE WERE CALLED BUT A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 BMW 528I. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD. SHE WAS UNABLE TO BRAKE AND CRASHED INTO TREE. THE CONTACT WAS UNINJURED. THE POLICE WERE CALLED BUT A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED WHERE THEY ADVISED HER THAT AN ENGINEER WOULD BE OUT TO INVESTIGATE THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINEER REMOVED THE BLACK BOX FROM THE VEHICLE AND CAME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT THE FAILURE WAS NOT MECHANICAL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND WAS DEEMED AS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 171,900. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA ODI #10392771
94,803 miles · Oct 26, 2010
Service Brakes, ElectricTraction Control SystemVehicle Speed Control
COMMON ABS ASC+T ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT FAILURE DISABLED ODOMETER, SPEEDOMETER, CRUISE CONTROL, AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS, AND ALARM DISABLED, ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DISABLED, AND STABILITY CONTROL DISABLED. THE CAR CAN NO LONGER BE LOCKED TO KEEP OUT INTRUDERS, THE ODOMETER IS DISABLED AND AN UNKNOWN AMOUNT OF MILEAGE IS BEING ADDED TO…
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COMMON ABS ASC+T ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT FAILURE DISABLED ODOMETER, SPEEDOMETER, CRUISE CONTROL, AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS, AND ALARM DISABLED, ANTI-LOCK BRAKES DISABLED, AND STABILITY CONTROL DISABLED. THE CAR CAN NO LONGER BE LOCKED TO KEEP OUT INTRUDERS, THE ODOMETER IS DISABLED AND AN UNKNOWN AMOUNT OF MILEAGE IS BEING ADDED TO THE VEHICLE(ALSO A VIOLATION OF CALIFORNIA VEHICLE CODE CVC), THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AND STABILITY CONTROL WILL NOT WORK AND THE CAR IS OUT RIGHT DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN BAD WEATHER. BMW IS AWARE OF THE ABS CONTROL MODULE PROBLEMS IN THESE CARS AND HAS DONE NOTHING TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION EXCEPT OFFER A VERY EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENT PART WITH NO UPGRADES TO PREVENT FUTURE FAILURES. MY PERSONAL VEHICLE HAS HAD THE MODULE FAIL AT ONLY 94K MILES. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS OUT THERE WITH THE VARY SAME COMPLAINT. IF I WAS THE ORIGINAL OWNER I WOULD BE TALKING WITH A LAWYER ABOUT CALIFORNIAN "LEMON LAWS". THE ABS SYSTEM, AUTOMATIC LOCKING SYSTEM, AND LOCK SYSTEM ARE ALL MAJOR SAFETY HAZARDS. THE ODOMETER NOT WORKING I BELIEVE FALLS UNDER A CVC VIOLATION POSSIBLY A FEDERAL MANDATE VIOLATION. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10362395
85,000 miles · Nov 9, 2008
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)
REPEATED FAILURE OF ABS-ODOMETER-SPEEDOMETER ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE FAILED TWO YEARS RUNNING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10248051